Circular knitting machine



- Nov. 22, 1938. l c. sMlTH- ET AL, 21,137,352

C IRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE /m /20 /54 A /gg' /22 l /Ji l i, 76 l Il] 71 74 I-zf @gam li' ,773 gg :f 33

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Il! T12 78.5 2 5 ,INVENTDRS EALEB SMITH JUEL L. PETERSUN WITNESS wf/m y TTDRNEY Nov. 22, 1938. 2,137,362

` c. SMITH ET AL.

' CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed'Aug. 18,' 195e s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTUM EALEB SMTTH Ju EL L. PETERSUN Nov. 22, 1938.

c. SMITH ET AL. 2,137,362 CRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE .v

Filed Aug. 1s, 193e asheets-sheet a o /af IHvENTnRs CALEB SMITH JuEL L. PETERSUN l 1 BY v TTUHNEY Nov. 2v2, 1938. V c. SMI'TH ET AL. 2,137,362

CIRCULAR' KNITTING MACHINE l Filed Aug. 18, 1956 8 sheew-slleet 4 -INvENTnRs J,\ CALEB SMITH /37 /ll \If\l .JuEL I PETERSUH Nov. 22, 1938. C, sMn-H ET AL, l l 2,137,362

GICULAR KNITTING MAGHIENEl Filed Aug. 18, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 la F "1;7 /Jb a d 5 f77 7 /aa az' 7 6 l2 1/ /37 El [3- 7 Y f a9 l /40 mm H5" f0.3' 90 KQ M ,/37 f3.5 /sa l- Vo /35 2.,; 'IHvEnTu/l-/sw CALEB SM1-TH WITNESS Just. L. Parana-,nn

Nov. 22, 1938.

WITNES 5 C. SMITH ET AL.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed-Aug. 18, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTDRS EAL'EB SMITH UEL L. PETERSIJH v Nov. 22, 1938. c. SMITH ET AL. 2,137,362

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1936 8 Sheets-Shea?l 7 EAL EB 5M 1TH v .JUEL L PETER5DN WITNES 5 A y www Nov. 22, 1938. c. SMITH ET AL.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 19.56 8 Sheetg-Sheet 8 gill/l INVENT u R 5 EAL EB SMITH JUEL L. P ETER 5mi BY .NNEII ...r

Emo 1955.86

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WITNEE. 5

TTnRnEY Patented Nov. 22, 1938 A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Caleb Smith and Juel L. Peterson, Seneca Falls, N. Y.; said lPeterson assigner to said Smith Application August 18, 1938, Serial No. 96,6 32

l 12 claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a circular knitting machine and pertains more particularly to a machine for knitting the ribbed fabric portion of a sock.

' 5 stocking, or the like, with the wales in the two parts co-extensive.

In one method of manufacturing socks or stockings of the class comprising a plain fabric portion and a ribbed fabric portion, the plain 1o fabric portion of the sock or stocking is knit on one knitting machine and then the ribbed fabric portion is formed on a second knitting machine comprising cylinder and dial needles. In transferring the plain fabric portion of the sock or 15 stocking to the second or rib knitting machine, only a portion of the stitches of the last course of the plain fabric is placed onto the cylinder needles while the balance of the stitches are placed on transfer jacks mounted on the needle cylinder and then these latter stitches are transferred from the jacks to corresponding dial needles of the knitting machine. In effecting this transfer of the stitches of the last course of the plain fabric to the circular knitting machine,

the stitches, insofar as we are aware, have -heretofore been picked by hand onto the cylinder needles and the transfer jacks with the result that this transfer operation has been a relatively slow tedious and expensive. method of procedure.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for knitting a ribbed fabric onto a plain fabric. A more specific object of the invention is to produce a circular knitting machine for knitting to the plain fabric portion the ribbed fabric portion of socks, stockings, or the like, whereby all the last row of stitches of the plain fabric portion ma'y be substantially simultaneously transferred upon the cylinder needles and transfer jacks. j 40 In accomplishing the above mentioned object,

we first knit the plain fabric portion ofthe article upon a flat knitting machine and then utilize a conventionally constructed transfer ring in transferringthe plain fabric to the cylinder needles and transfer jacks ofthe rib knitting machine. Insofar as the applicants are aware, it is not practical when knitting stockings or the like bythe first method hereinbefore mentioned to utilize a transfer ring for directly placing the loops of the last row of stitches of the plain fabric onto the cylinder needles and transfer jacks of the rib knitting machine for the reason that certain of the cylinder needles, particularly those adjacent the stitch and cast-olf cams are not supported against downward longitudinal movement from the level of the remaining needles and jacks when the machine is positioned to receive the formed stitches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rib knitting machine with simply constructed 5 and operated means for bringing the upper or outer ends of all of the cylinder needles and transfer jacks to a uniform predetermined level and positively holding them at said level.

A further object oLthe invention resides in 10 providing a knitting machine of the above mentioned class with simple and elcient means for transferring the stitches from the transfer jacks to corresponding dial needles of the machine whereby the wales in the ribbed portion of the 15 fabric will be formed co-extensive with those in the plain portion thereof.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a circular knitting machine with improved fabric feeding ortake-up means whereby. 20 the following advantages are obtained:

First-the knitting machine may be successfully operated at a much higher rate of speed than is practical when using the well known conventional types of ieerl.4 25

Secondonly one setting of the feed means is required for different thicknessesor conditions of fabric, whether caused by use of yarn of different weights or by use of different stitches as plain, rib'or cardigan. or when the stitches are Sii of different lengths.

Third-the tension or strain upon the fabric incident to maintaining the same under operating tension during the knitting operation is reduced to a minimum. 35'

Still another object of the invention resides in providing themachine with simple and efcient automatic yarn control means whereby two or more yarns of different or contrasting colors or materials may be selectively employed in the 40 each other and Athe jacks and associated needles 50 always operatively engage in their respective, tracks andV are never transferred from one cam track to another, thereby eliminating the expensive and intricate mechanism required when effecting the movement of the cylinder needles another as is often the case in machines of this type.

Other objects and advantages will be brought out in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the right hand side of a rib knitting' machine embodying the various features of this invention illustrating certain portions .thereof broken away and in section, the view being taken substantially in the plane of the line II, Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical 'sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, showing the same viewed from the left hand side and with portions thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged horizontal sectional views taken respectively on lines 5 6, and 1-1, Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line .-4, Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 8 4, Figure 6. l

Figures 10 and 11 are detail sectional. views taken respectively on lines IO-III and II--II, Figure 9.

Figure l2 is ardetail horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of the upper yarn guide fingers and intermediate the upper and next lower yarn clamp members positioned at the right handv side of the machine as viewed in Figure 8 and illustrating the upper guide finger moved to an outer position for maintaining the yarn associated therewith in cooperative relation with the dial and cylinder needles.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the pattern drum and adjacent push bars, and illustrates the feed sprocket wheel and a portion :vfmthe cam chain in operative relation there- Figure 14 is a detail central vertical sectional view through the upper rear portion of the dial supporting bracket taken substantially on line I4-I4, Figure 18.

Figure 15 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line I5-I5, Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line I5-I6, Figure 14.

Figure 1'1 is a detail side elevation of one of the dial stitch cam operating levers and the means for actuating the same as` viewed from line II-I'I, Figure 6.

Figu're 18 is a detail vertical sectional' view illustrating a portion of the cylinder housing and jack ring in elevation with the pins and cam grooves associated therewith for elevating and lowering the ring and the jacks associated therewith.

Figures 19 and 20 are detail vertical sectional views taken respectively on lines IQ--Il and 20--20, Figure 18 on a reduced scale.

Figure 21 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2I-2I, Figure 6.

Figure 22 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 22--22, Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an enlarged horizontal sectional or transfer jacks, or both, from one cam track to view taken on line 22-23, Figure 2, illustrating the feed or take-up mechanism in elevation with a portion thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 24 is a development of the cylinder needie cam track and Vof the jack track, illustrating the cast-olf and stitch cams'in the operative position and a portion of the cylinder needles and jacks associated therewith.

yFigure 25 is a view similar to Figure 24 illustrating the cylinder stitch and cast-off cams in the inoperative position and the jack track elevated in respect to the needle track for maintaining the cylinder needles and` transfer jacks at a uniform elevation for transferring.

Figure 26 is a development showing diagrammatically the various cams carried by the pattern drum.

Figure 27 is a detail vertical sectional view of the needle cylinder and a transfer ring having the terminal loops of the plain fabric thereon mounted on the cylinder needles and transfer jacks in operative engagement therewith for transferring.

Figure 28 is a view similar to Figure 27, illustrating the terminal loops of the vplain fabric transferred from the quills of the transfer ring onto the corresponding cylinder needles and transfer jacks;

Figure 29 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating a modified form of my novel feed means.

, Figure 30 is a detail sectional view taken on line III- 85, Figure 29.

The machine, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a base I, a bed plate 2, secured to the upper end of the base I and a standard 3 mounted upon the rear portion of the bed plate 2. A bearing housing 4, as shown in Figure 2, is secured to the rear portion of the base I and bed plate 2 for rotatably supporting a drive shaft 5 which is Journaled in spaced bearing members 6 mounted in the housing 4.

'I'he outer end of shaft 5 has secured thereto a pulley 8 adapted to be operatively connected with a suitable source of power, not shown, for rotating the shaft 5. The shaft 5 is provided with a pinion gear 8 which, in this instance, is made integral with the shaft and which is in meshing engagement with a drive gear I 0 secured to one end 'of a stub shaft II which is rotatably mounted, as shown, in Figure 2, in a bearing housing I2 secured to the basel beneath the shaft 5. Rotatably connected to the gear I0 as at I2, Figure 1, is a .feed pawl I4 which has the free end thereof adapted to engage a ratchet wheel I5 which is secured in any suitable manner to a shaft Ii journaled in the lower portions of the arms of a U-shaped bracket I1 secured to the lower face of the bed plate 2 beneath the standard 2.

Secured to the shaft I5 is a pattern drum 20 for automatically controlling various mechanisms of the apparatus as will hereinafter more clearly appear. litotatablyA mounted upon the shaft I5 is a second ratchet wheel 2l to which is secured a sprocket wheel 22 to rotate in unison therewith. The sprocket wheel 22 is adapted to operate a pattern chain 23V, 'I'he sprocket wheel 2l and pattern chain 22 are intermittently driven upon Aeach revolution of the gear I0 by means of a feed pawl 24, pivotally connected at one end as at 25 to the pawl I4, as shown in Figure l.

'The feed action of the pawl I4 upon the ratchet whee1l5 is automatically controlled by cams 21 745 connected with the chain 23 through the medium f a chain rider arm 28 which is rotatably mounted at one end upon a stud 29 secured to a bracket 30 mounted upon the bracket l1. The arm 28 is connected by any suitable means to Vone end of a. spacer sleeve 3| rotatably mounted on studv 29 and which has secured to the opposite end thereof an arm 32 which has pivotally secured thereto as at 33 one end of a feed trip arm 34. The arm 34 extends inwardly or forwardly from the pivot 33 adjacent one face of the ratchet wheel `l5 and has the free end thereof supported by an annular ring or disk 35 secured to the ratchet wheel l5, as shown in Figure 1.

The inner end of the trip arm 34 is so positioned relative to a tooth of the ratchet I5 when the pawl I4 is at the extreme end of its inward or feeding stroke that when said pawl I 4 is moved outwardly by the gear lil, the free end of the pawl will engage the trip arm 34 and be moved thereby upwardly and be prevented from coming into holding engagement with` the next succeeding tooth from that previously engaged by the pawl. When the chain rider arm 28 is engaged by a cam 21, the trip arm 34 will be moved rearwardly thereby a suiiicient distance to maintain said trip arm out of engaging relation with the feed pawl I4 so that as said pawl is again moved forwardly by the gear l0, the same will engage the next succeeding tooth and move the ratchet wheel i5 forwardly one tooth space.

In other words, the chain ratchet 2l is moved forwardly one tooth space by the pawl 24 during each revolution of the gear I0, while the pattern I drum 20 is moved forwardly a distance corre-- sponding to one tooth space of the feedratchet l5 only when a chain cam 21 engages the arm 28 for maintaining the triparm 34 out of engagement with the feed pawl I4.

Needle cylinder The rear portion of the bed plate 2 has mount- .ed therein a ball bearing member 31- in which ing ring 43 which has secured to the lower face thereof a gearring member 44 which is operatively connected with the pinion 39 by means of an intermediate gear 45 rotatably mounted upon astud 48 secured to the bead plate 2; see Figure 4.

The bearing ring 43 also has secured thereto a needle cylinder 48 which extends upwardly therefrom in co-axial alignment with the bearing ring 43 and ring gear 44. 'A cam housing 50 surrounds the needle cylinder 48 and is secured to the bed plate l2 in fixed relation therewith. The outer peripheral surface of the needle cylinder 48 is provided with a multiplicity of longitudinally disposed grooves 5l arranged in uniform circumferential spaced relation for the reception of thev cylinder needles 52 and transfer vjacks 53, the jacks in this instance.4 being arranged in every third groove, while the lneedles are positioned in the grooves intermediate those in which the jacks are mounted.'

In the upper portion of the interior of the cam housing is mountedin xed relation therewith a pair of ring members 55 and '56 composed of hardened steel or the like, arranged in slightly spaced relation longitudinally of the cam housing to form a cam track ltherebetween for the reception of the butts 52' of the needles 52. Associated with the cam track 51 are two pairs of movable cam members arranged at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the cam housing, each of which comprises a cast-olf or clearing cam 58 and a stitch cam 58. The cast-off or clearing cams 58 are arranged at the lower side of the cam track 51 and are each provided with a boss or extension 60 which projects outwardly through an elongated slot 6I provided in the adjacent portion of the cam housing 50. In each extension 60 is mounted a. vertically disposed r'ack member 62 which, in this instance, is in the form of a rod, slidably mounted at the ends thereof in outwardly extending lugs or flanges 63 and 34 provided on the cam housing 50, as shown more particularly in Figures 1, 3 and 8.'

Each of the stitch cams 59 is arranged above the cam track51 and is provided with a lug or projection 65 which extends outwardly through l a corresponding slot 66 provided in the cam housing. 50. The lugs 55 for the stitch cams 59 are.

secured to a respective rack member 61 or 81' which extend vertically through corresponding openings provided in the lugs 63 and 64' respectively, adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. Each pair of cams is operated independently of the other pair of cams. and the cams of each pair are simultaneously moved in opposite directions to bring them into cooperative relation with the cam track 51 and with the butts of the cylinder needles 52 to eifect stitching and out of cooperative relation with said cam track and the needle butts for transfer in a manner which will hereinafter more readily appear.

The means for operating the cast-off and stitch cams 58 and 59 located at the right hand side of ythe machine. as illustrated more particularly in Figures l and 2, comprises a rack member. 69 mounted for longitudinal reciprocative movement in a groove 118 provided in the bed plate 2 beneath the cam housing 50. The rack 69 has a. push rod 1I connected at one end therewith and the other end of said rod is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever structure 12 which is rotatably connected intermediate 'its ends as at 13 to an upright bracket 14 secured to the bed plate 2. The other arm of the bell crank lever 12 extends rearwardly from the pivot 13 over the upper end of a push bar 15 which is mounted for vertical reciprocative movement in guide members 16 and'11 secured tothe bed plate 2 and bracket I1 respectively. The lower end of the push bar 15 terminates adjacent the 'pattern drum 28 and is adapted to be operated by a cam member 18 secured in any suitable manner to the pattern drum 20 at one end thereof as illustrated in Figure 13.

lThe bell crank lever 12 is yieldingly maintained in contact with the upper end of the push bar 15 by a coil spring 19 which also functions to yieldingly move the rack 68 forwardly when the bell Acrank lever is releasedby the downward movement of the push bar 15 as saidfbar is released dered screw 88 secured vto the cam housing 58. The segmental gear member 82 also has meshing engagement with the racks 82 and 91 as illustrated in Figure 1, so that when the segmental gear member 82 is rocked about the pivot 88 a corresponding reciprocating movement of the rack members 52 and 61 will be produced thereby for moving the cams 58 and 59 connected thereto toward or from the cam track 51.

The mechanism for operating the other pair of cams 58 and 59 located at the left hand side of the machine is constructed and operated in the same manner as the mechanism just described for operating the cam members located at the right hand side of the machine with the exception that instead of the yrack member 69 engaging a pinion, it is in meshing engagement with a segmental gear member 85 rotatably mounted on a shouldered screw 88 secured to the cam housing 58 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The segmental gear 85 in this instance is in meshing engagement with the rack member 81' connected with the adjacent stitch cam 59 for reciprocating the rack member and cam. Motion is transmitted from the rack member 51' to the companion rack mem-v The lower portion of the interior of the cam housing 58 is'provided with an enlarged circular recess 58' which extends inwardly from the lower end thereof to a position in close proximity to the lower positioned ring member 55 as shown in Figure 2. In this recess 58' is mounted for axial movement a jack ring 89 which is of less axial length than said recess. The jack ring 89 is provided on its inner surface with a circular recess 98 which forms a uniform track for receiving the butts 53' of the transfer jacks 53 therein. The jack ring 89 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed cam slots. 9|, one of which is shown in Figure 18. These cam slots extend transversely of the jack* ring and receive therein the end of a respective cam screw 92 which is mounted in the adjacent portion of the housing 58 in fixed relation thereto. 'I'he cam slots 9| are so arranged that when the jack ring 89 is rotated in one direction, said ring will be moved axially toward the ring members 55 and 58 for elevating the transfer jacks to bring them from the inoperative position withthe upper ends thereof in a plane below the upper ends of the needle cylinders 52 and when the jack ring is rotated in the opposite direction, said ring will be moved axially downwardly away from the ring members 55 and 55 for returning the transfer jacks 59 to the lowermost inoperative position.4

Means for producing the necessary rotary movement of the jack ring 89 to effect the axial movement thereof comprises a push bar 94 slidably mounted for vertical reciprocative movement in a guide'nember 95 secured to the standard 3 and in the hereinbefore mentioned guide member 11 secured to the bracket member 1, said push bar being moved upwardly by a suitable cam member 98 mounted on the pattern drum 28. The upper end of the push bar-94 is adapted to engage one arm of a bell crank lever 96 which is rotatably connected asat 91 with the standard 3. The other arm of the bell crank lever 96 is connected by a push rod 98 to a pin 99 which extends through a cam slot |88 provided in the adjacent portion of the cam housing 58 and has the inner end thereof connected with the jack-ring 89, as illustrated in Figures 3, 18 and 19. The rod 98 is connected with the pin 99 by means of a ball and socket joint, illustrated at |8|, Figures 2, 3 and 19. The cam slot |88 is disposed in angular relation to the axis of movement of the jack ring 89 similar to that of the cam slots 9|, while the upper end as |88 of the cam slot |88 and the lower ends 9| of the cam slots 9| are arranged to extend in a plane substantially normal to the axis of movement of the jack ring so that when the ring is moved to its uppermost position, the pins l 92 and 99 will register in these horizontal portions of the respective cam slots so that the jack ring will be maintained thereby in its uppermost position against being accidentally displaced by vibratory movement or other means. A spring |8| yieldingly maintains lever 96 in contact with push bar 94 and also produces rotation of the jack ring to lift the jacks carriedl by the ring when push bar 94 is released by cam 93.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the lower ends of the needles 52 terminate some -distance above the piane of the lower ends of the transfer jacks 58 and in each groove 5| containing a needle is also mounted a needle jack |83 which has the butt |88' thereof positioned in the jack ring groove 98. 'I'he needle jacks |83 are similar in construction and each one 'extends upwardly a short distance beyond the upper edge of the jack ring for engagement with the lower end of a corresponding needle when the jack ring is moved to its uppermost position, and when the ring is in its lowermost inoperative position, the upper ends of the needle jacks |83 terminate below the needles so as to permit the free stitching operation of said needles', as illustrated in Figure 8. The distance from the butts |83 of the needle jacks |83 to the upper end of said jacks is uniform for all of the needle jacks and this distance is so proportionedrelative to the construction of the transfer jacks that when the jack ring is moved to its uppermost position, the needles 52 will be engaged by the needle jacks and main# tained thereby .with their upper ends at a predetermined uniform elevation.

Operating mechanism for dial needles,

The hereinbefore mentioned vertically disposed drive shaft 88 extends upwardly some distance beyond the plane of the upper end of the cam housing 58 and needle cylinder 88 and extends through a gear case |85 secured to or made integral with a horizontally disposed dial supporting bracket or head |85 which is mounted intermediate its ends upon the upper end of a guide post |81. The guide post |81 extends downwardly from the head |86 through alignedopenings |88 and |88 formed on the upper and lower portions respectively of the standard 8, with the lower end of said post terminating some distance below the bed plate 2. The post |81 is a tubular lmember and has mounted therein a spring ||8 which has the upper end thereof in engagement with a plug I screw threaded in the upper end operative position against the action of the spring by means of a latch I3 mounted upon a shaft i|4 journaled in the upper end of standard 3. The latch ||3 extends upwardly from the shaft |4 through a central slot or passage ||5 in the head |08 and has the upper end thereof normally maintained in holding engagement with a latch plate ||8 secured to the bracket |00 by a spring ||1, Figure 14. The latch is rotatably mounted in this instance, upon an eccentric sleeve ||4' secured to or made integral with the shaft ||4 in such amanner that during the initial rotation of shaft lill, the latch is moved upwardly to lift the head above latch plate ||8 and then durv ing the remainder of the rotary movement of the shaft ||4 and sleeve ||4', the latch is rotated forwardly against the action of spring Ii'i to move the head away from the latch plate |18 by the engagement of a latch trigger ||0 secured to '||3, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 16.

shaft ||4 with a pin ||3 secured to the latch The means for producing necessary rotation of shaft ates lever |20 in the opposite direction and yieldingly maintains the lever in contact with the upper end of push bar |22.

The head |08 is clamped to the upper end of the post |01 by a pair of screws l|23 so that as the head is released by latch 3, spring ill will force the post and head together with the mechanism carried by said head upwardly away from the cam housing` 50 and needle cylinder 40. In order that head |08 and the mechanism carried thereby will be accurately positionedv relative to the needle cylinder 48 when moved to the lowermost operative position, post |01 is provided with an enlarged tapered'iiange portion |01' which engages in a corresponding tapered portion |00? of the opening |00 at the upper end of standard 3; see Figures '1 and 14. Also, the rear end of head |08 is provided with a pilot rod |24 which is secured at its upper end to the head and extends downwardly therefrom through a suitable opening provided in the upper portion of the standard 3 at the rear thereof as shown in Figures 14 and 15. The pilot rod |24, like the post |01, is provided with an enlarged tapered flange portion |24 which, when the head |08 is in its lowermost operative position, registers in a corresponding tapered enlarged portion |25 oi' the opening |25 'I'he pilot rod |24 extends som'e distance below the upper end portion of the standard 3 when the head is in its lowermost operative position and has the front and rear sides thereof flattened as at |24", so that head |08 may have `a. limited' amount of longitudinal tilting movement during the raising and lowering operation thereof without producing a binding action between the pilot rod andthe adjacent portion oi the standard 3, but will be held by the. pilot rod against lateral movement relative to the needle cylinder.

l 'I'he length of the vertical driveshaft 30 is such that the upper end of said shaft will remain inY engagement with the 'gear case |05 during all vertical positions of the case. ,The upper end portion of the shaft is provided with longitudinally extending splines 33' upon which is slidably mounted a pinion |21 which is positioned within the gear case |05 as shown in Figure 2. The pinion |21 is in meshing engagement with a gear |20 rotatably mounted upon a stud |20 secured to the gear case. The gear |23 is also in meshing engagement with a gear member secured to the upper end of a tubular shaft 13|.

The shaft |3| extends downwardly from within the case |05 and is journaled in a sleeve |32 which, in turn, is secured in a pendant boss |33 provided on the gear case |05. To the lower end of sleeve |32 is secured a dial cam plate |35. The shaft i3l extends downwardly beyond the dial cam plate |35 and sleeve |32 and has secured to the lower end thereof a dial needle plate |38 which has the upper sui-fac thereof provided with a multiplicity of 1 disposed grooves |31 in uniform eircumferential spaced relation for the reception of a respective dial needle |38. These dial needle grooves correspond in number to the transfer jacks and are arranged in cooperative ent with the cylinder grooves 5| containing said jacks.

Dial needle cams The dial needle plate |38 is arranged in axial spaced relation to the dial camvplate |35 for the reception therebetween of the cam. members for actuating the dial needles |33. These cam members, as illustrated more clearly in Figure '7, comprise a pair of diemetrically fixedcams |40 arranged intermediate the shaft |31 and the peripheral edge of the dial cam plate and are securedto the latter byscrews |4|. The'dial cams also include a central ilxed cam member |42 which surrounds the shaft |3| and is secured to the diaLcam plate |35 by screws |43, a pair of movable stitch cam members |44 and a pair of movable cast-oil! cam members |45.`

The stitch cam-members |44 are arranged at erating lever as |40 ocr |43', Idgure 6. ,The forward or free end of each stitch cam'is tapered as at |44! for ensalnl! the corresponding tapered forward end |40' of an adjacent path cam |40. The inner verticalledge oi' each stitch cam |44 is formed concave and extends forwardly from the axis of the stud Ill for oonnecting the inneredge Qftherearend ofone nxed cam with the inner edgeof the forward end of the next succeeding fixed cam when the stitch cam is in the outermost position. When the 'stitch cams are in their position 'as illustrated byfulllinesinli'igure'htheinner edges of the cams engage the butts |33' of the dial needles for retreating said needl to their innermost position.

The east-oil cams |45 have the forward'ends thereof arranged adjacent the inner xed cam Y member |42 and lilre the stitch cam members,

are each provided with an upwardly extending rod or stud |48 which is journaled in the dial cam plate |35. These studs |48 extend above the cam plate with the upper ends thereof secured to a respective operating lever |41. The

posite sides of the fixed cam |42 intermediate cam. surfaces |42', while the axes of the studs |48 are arranged in alignment with the peripheral surface |42" at the forward edge of the respective recess |48, as shown in Figure 7. The outer longitudinal vertical edges of each castoff cam |45 are convex in formation, and when the cast-ofi` cams are in their innermost position within the corresponding recess |48 as illustrated by broken lines in Figure 7, extend substantially concentric with the peripheral surfaces |42" of the'central ilxedcam for permitting the needles to remain in an inner or retracted position. The fixed cams |48 are each provided with a cam surface |48 on their inner vertical edge adapted when said cast-off cams are in their outermost position to engage the butts of the needles as they pass beyond cams |45 and produce a limited inward movement of the needles.

The stitch cams |44 are automatically operated from respective cam members |58 and |5I, Figure 26, secured to the pattern drum 28 and suitable push bars |52 slidably mounted in the hereinbefore mentioned guide members 11 and an additional guide member |54 secured to the upper end of the standard 8, as shown in Figures 3 and A13. That is, the push bar |52 operated by the pattern drum cam |58 -is operatively connected with the-stitch cam |44 positioned at the left hand side of the dial plate |85 as viewed,

in Figures 6 and 7 by means of a rocker arm |55 which, in this instance, is in the form of a bell crank lever journaled upon a horizontally disposed rocker armshaft |58 mounted in the dial supporting head |88 a short distance from the v rear end thereof, said shaft being arranged to extend outwardly from opposite sides of the head to support the several rocker 'arms actuated from the cams on the pattern drum as will be apparent from the following description:

One of the arms of the bell crank lever |55 extends rearwardly from the shaft |58 over the push bar |52 to be engaged thereby, while the other arm of the bell `crank lever is operatively connected by a push rod |51 to the lower end of a cam. arm |58 which is disposed in substantially a vertical plane intermediate the stitch cam lever |48 and the tubular shaft |8| as indicated in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 17. The upper end of the cani arm |58 is pivotally secured by a stud |58 to an L-shaped bracket |88 which has the shorter leg thereof secured to the bottom of the gear case The other leg of the bracket extends downw-irdly adjacent the inner face of the cam arm |58 for maintaining said arm against inward lateral movement during the cam action thereof upon the stitch cam lever |48.

The stitch cam lever |48 is provided with a pin |82 at the outer end thereof which extends up'- wardly into the path of movement of a cam element or flange |88 provided on the lower end of cam arm |58. .The cam element |88 comprises a tapered portion |88' which extends forwardly from the rearvertical edge of the arm |58 at an angle to the outer face of the arm and a straight portion |88" positioned at the forward side of the arm in parallel relation with the outer face thereof. The arm |48 is yieldingly urged in the direction of the cam arm |58 for maintaining pin |82 in engagement with the cam surface |88.by

maintained when released by cam |58 in the rearmost yposition by a spring |88 connected with the bracket |88 and rocker arm |55.

In operation, cam arm |58 is normally maintained in a forward position when the push rod |52 is'in its lowermost position out of engagement with the cam |58, at which position of the cam arm' the pin |82 will engage the rearmost portion of the cam surface I 88' as illustrated by broken lines in Figure 17 at which position of lever |48 the dial stitch cam |44 connected therewith will be maintained in its outermost inoperative position as illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 7. When the push vbar |52 is` moved upwardly by engagement of cam |58 therewith, the 1| cam arm |58 will be rocked rearwardly thereby until pin |82 engages the forward flat portion |83" of cam element |88 as illustrated by full lines in Figures 6 and 17 at which position of the cam arm the dial stitch cam |44 will be 2| When it is desired to transfer stitches carried 21 by the transfer jacks 58 mounted in the needle cylinder 48 to the dial needles |88, it is necessary that a latch opener be employed to insure the open position of the latches of the dial needle during the transfer operation and we, therefore, 84 .utilize the dial stitch cam |44 actuated by cam arm |58 for positioning the dial needles in an intermediateposition'dn cooperative relation with a latch opener presently described. In order to cause the dial stitch cam |44 to function in this 8 manner, the push rod |51 is composed of two portions joined together by a turnbuckle |81 which is adapted to vary the'length of the rod 51 and thereby vary the relation of the cam |88 with pin |82. That is, when push rod |51 4 is adjusted to its maximum length, the cam surface |88" will engage the pin |82 when rocker arm |55vis actuated by cam |58 for producing a maximum throw of the lever |48 to bring the dial stitch cam 44 into its innermost operative 4 position. It will now be understood that by lengthening rod |51 by the manipulation of the turnbuckle |81, pin I 82 will be engaged by the cam surface |88' only which will produce a less degree of movement of lever, |48 when the arm |55'is actuated by the cam |58 than formerly with the result that the dial stitch cam |44 will be moved to an intermediate position for effecting only a partial 'inward movement of the dial needles whereby the eyes of the needles will l be brought into operative alignment with the latch opener, presently described.

The dial switch cam connected with lever |48 is operatively connected with the pattern drum cam |5| through the medium of a push bar |82 q and a rock arm 55, not shown, but which are mounted at the opposite side of the bracket |88 from that of the nrst mentioned arm |55 and push bar |52. This latter rocker arm is operatively connected with the lever |48' by a push rod |89, as illustrated in Figure 6. The cam |5|., as illustrated in Figure 26, is provided vwith reduced portions |5|' in the outer face thereof for producing a limited movement of the lever |48' and, therefore, of the cam 44 connected therewith so that said cam will bemaintained in an intermediate position for producing a cardigan stitch. f

The cast-off cams |45 are operated by cams |18 and |1| respectively mounted upon the pattern i drum 26 through the medium of push bars |52 mounted in the guides 11, and |54, similar to the push bars |52, for the dial stitch cams. The upper ends of these bars engage corresponding rocker arms |55 also mounted upon the shaft |56, said rocker arms being connected with a corlresponding dial cast-off lever |41 by respective Latch opener The hereinbefore mentioned latch opener comprises a relatively thin plate member positioned in a recess at the front side of the dial cam plate |35 intermediate the adjacent dial stitch cam |44 and dial cast-olf cam |45 as shown in Hgures 6 and 9. The latch platch |15 is pivotally secured to the dial cam plate by a shoulf shown in Figures 10 and 11 to form a cam sur- 'iii dered screw |16 and -extends forwardly from the pivot |16 as shown in Figure 9 with the lower edge Vthereof adapted to travel in a circular.

groove |11 provided in the dial plate |38 adjacent the peripheral edge thereof. 'I'he latch plate is provided with a rearwardly extending tapered heel portion |15' adapted to extend into the' eyes of the needles beneath the latch. The lower edge of the latch plate extends inwardly and increases in width toward the rear end thereof as face |15"/adapted to be engaged by the latches as the diallneedles are rotated forwardly to rotate said latches about their respective pivots from the closed position to the open position. The latch opener |15 is yieldingly maintained in its lowermost operative position by a spring |18 attached, as shown 'in Figure 9, to cam plate |35 and` which engages an upwardly extending shoulder |19 on the latch plate. The latch plate is normally maintained in a raised inoperative position against the action of spring |18 by an arm |41' secured to the operating lever |41 of Yarn guide fingers 'I'he dial cam plate |35 is., provided with two sets of yarn guide fingers arranged at substantially diametrically opposite sides of'the shaft |3| from each other.I 'I'he yarn guide fingers of each set are constructed and operated alike so that the description of one setwill answer for both sets. Each'set of yarn guide ngers comprises, in this instance, three fingers |80 which are pivotally mounted upon a stud |8| secured to'a bracket |82 which, in turn, is secured to the gear case |05 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The fingers |80 of each set are each provided. with a bearing sleeve I8,3. and these sleeves are arranged in telescopic relation with each other upon the stud |8| for maintaining the iingers in spaced parallel relation to each other. As shown in Figure 6, the fingers |80 of one set extend in the opposite direction from their pivot |8| to those of4 the other'set and the -ngers of one set are connected with corresponding fingers of the other set by means of respective tie rods |84 connected with their respective fingers at the forward side of the pivots |8| so that corresponding iingers of each set will operate in unison..v The inner ends of the fingers are provided with a respective eyelet or 'opening |85 for the reception of the yarn as Y therethrough.

One of the sets of fingers, as those positioned at the right hand side of Figure 6, are each connected with a respective pushrod |86 which is also connected with a corresponding rocker arm |55 mounted upon the shaft |56 to be actuated by corresponding cams |81, |88 and |89, Figure 26, mounted upon the pattern drum tlough the medium of corresponding push bars I n Yarn clamps Associated with each set of guide fingers |80 is a set of yarn clamp members |90. These sets of clamps are mounted upon the dial cam plate at diametrically opposite sides thereof and in close proximity to the corresponding set of guide fingers |80. The sets of yarn clamps are constructed alike and each set comprises three segmental spring plates |90 which'are secured in spaced relation at their rear ends to each other by means of screws |9| and spacing blocks or plates |92. The peripheral edge of the dial cam plate |35 is recessed for the reception of the clamps |90 and a disk`|93 of substantially the same diameter as said cam plate is secured' to the lower face thereof to close the lower side of said recess and form a support for the clamps |90. The clamp plates |90 extend forwardly in the direction oi rotation of the dial plate |36 from a position at the rear of the corresponding set of yarn guide fingers |80 to a position in advance of said ngers as shown in Figure 12 with their free ends provided with an enlarged portion |90' adapted to receive the yarn Y therebetween.

Positioned adjacent each set'of clamp members in a plane intermediate the ends 'thereof is a throatplate |94 carried by a bracket |95 secured to the dial cam plate |35. Each throatl plate- |94 is provided with a guide notch |94' through which the yarn passes during the knitting operation from the guide nger i 80 which has been moved to the operative position. Each throat plate. |94 is an arcuate member arranged with the inner face thereof in the plane of the peripheral surface of the needle cylinder 48 as l shown in Figure 12 and supports the' upper ends of the cylinder. needles when said needles are raised to engage the yarn held in the operative position. By referring to Figures 6 and 12, it will be noted that each of the clamp plates |90 is provided with a recess |96 which, when th'e guide fingers are in their innermost inoperative positions, provide a passage through which the yarn guided by said fingers may pass beneath the clamping members.

Yarn cut-o1? mechanism y Associated with each of clamping members and guide fingers is a yarncut-off mechanism located adjacent the rear ends of the clamping members.4 This mechanism, as shown more particularly in Figures 6, 21 and 22, comprises a shear blade carrier arm |98 mounted in Vaslot 75 |99 provided in the upper' face of the dial cam plate |35. 'I'his arm |98 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the dial plate by a pin 200. To the end of the arm adjacent the corresponding set of clamp members is secured a shear blade 20| which is positioned in close proximity to a second shear blade 202 mounted in the slot |99 and secured to the 4adjacent portion of the dial cam plate as by screws 208, Figure 22.

I'he edge of the shear blade 202 adjacent the clamps |80 is provided with an upwardly facing cutting edge 202', while the lower edge of the shear blade 20| is provided with a downwardly facing cutting edge 20|' adapted to cooperate with the cutting edge 202' for severing the yarn. The blade 20| is normally maintained in its lowermost position by a spring 205 secured by screws 206 to the upper face of the dial cam plate |35 adjacent the inner end of the arm |98. The forward end of arm |98 and the shear blades carried thereby are raised against the action of spring 205 by means of an operating plate 201 which, as shown, in Figures 2 and 6, is provided with a central opening for receiving the bearing sleeve |32 therethrough and is rotatably mounted upon the dial cam plate |35.

The operating plate 201 is provided with a lateraly projecting arm 208 at one side thereof to which is connected a push rod 209 which extends rearwardly from the arm 208 and is operatively connected with a rock arm |55 mounted upon the shaft |56 which is adapted to be actuated through the medium of a push bar |52 by either one of two cams 2|0 mounted upon the pattern.

drum 20. The operating plate 201 is also provided with a pair of laterally projecting diametrically disposed members 2| which normally extend outwardly at the rear of the respective blade carrying arm |98 and when the plate 201 is rotated by the action of a cam 2|0 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Flgure`6, these projections engage a cam surface 2|2 provided at the rear end of each arm |98 for pressing said end of the arm downwardly and raising the opposite end of the arm and the shear blade carried thereby. 'I'he operating plate is yieldlngly maintained in the inoperative position by a spring as |56 when the pattern drum cams 2|0 are out of engagement with the corresponding push bar |52. It will be noted by referring to Figure 6 that the shear operating plate 201 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed apertures 2|5 through which the studs |46 extend, said apertures being of sufficient size and contour to readily permit the necessary swinging movement of the plate relative to the studs to effectthe operation of the shear blade carryingl arms |98.

Each ofthe shear blade4 carrying arms |98 ,is also provided with an upwardly extending bore 24|8 adjacent the forward end thereof. In'v the bore 2 |3 is mounted a spring pressed plunger 2 I4 which is adapted to engage the rear end of the uppermost clamping blade |90 and press Vthe same and the remaining clamping blades into engagement with each other and with the disk |93 for clamping the yarn Y therebetween, as shown in Figure 22.

Fabric feed mechanism As hereinbefore stated, the dial plate operating shaft |3| is a tubular member and it has journaled therein a supporting shaft 2|8 as shown in Figure 2. This shaft 2| 8 extends upwardly beyond the upper end of the shaft |3| and through a suitable aperture in the gear case |05 and has secured to the upper end thereof a stop arm 2|9 which, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 5, is adapted to be engaged by a detent or pawl 220 pivotally secured as at 22| to the gear case. lThe detent 220 is connected to one end of a push rod 222, which has the other end thereof plvotally connected as at 223, Figure 3, to one arm |55' of the bell crank lever |55 which is operatively connected with the cam arm |58 for operating one of the dial stitch cams |44. A spring 224 connected with the bracket |86 and rod 222 normally urges the detent away from the stop arm 2|8 to the position illustrated by broken lines in Figure 5, while the detent is positively moved into the path of movement of the stop arm 2|! by the action of cam |50 for maintaining the shaft and the mechanism connected thereto against rotary movement during the rotation of the shaft |3| and needle cylinder 48.

The lower end of shaft 2|8 extends a short distance below the lower end of shaft ISI and has xedly secured thereto a bearing disk 225 which is of less diameter than the interior of the adjacent portion of the needle cylinder 48. 'I'he bearing disk 225 carries a plurality of, in this instance l0, feeding. disks 226, each of which is secured to one end of a respective spindle 221 journaled in disk 225. Each of the spindles 221 extends inwardly from the peripheral edge of the bearing plate at a downwardly inclined angle relative to the axis of the shaft 2|8 and also in tangential relation to said shaft, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 23. The peripheral edge of each feed disk 226 is corrugated or ,provided with a series of teeth 228 adapted to engage the fabric formed by the cylinder and dial needles as said fabric passes downwardly through the interior of the needle cylinder. The`upper end ofthe i'nterior of the needle cylinder is beveled outwardly as at 230, Figures 2 and '23, and is preferably provided with a ring member 23| composed of steel and which is seated in a suitable recess provided in the tapered portion of the needle cyl- A inder. 'I'he interior surface of the ring 23| is tapered so as to cooperate with said tapered por,- tion 230 to form a smooth continuous surface throughout the axial length of said .tapered portion. t

The tangential relation of the spindles 221 to the axis of the supporting shaft 2|8 is such that the peripheral portion of each disk 226, lying in the horizontal axial plane of the spindle and p0- sitioned at the rear side of the spindle, will be spaced a greater distance from said shaft axis than the diametrically opposite side of the disk. It will thus be seen that the axis of rotation of each feed disk 226 is arranged both at an oblique angle with and tangentially to the axisy of rotation of the'cylinder and dial needles and. therefore, to the axis o f movement of the knitted fabric. It therefore follows that the rear peripheral edge portion of each feed disk which islocated between the horizontal plane of the axis of rotation of the disk and the extreme lowe'r side thereof will lie nearest to the fabric and, therefore, will be engaged by said fabric as the fabric is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow X in Figurel 23. As the fabric thus engages each disk, said disk will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by the fabric so that the fabric engaged by the peripheral edge of the disk will be carried axially downwardly by the disk as said disk is rotated. It will thus be seen that the rotation of the, fabric produced by the needles actuates the feeding device vcured. thereto to a sufficient distance above the for automatically effecting the axial movement of the fabric in a direction away from the adjacent cooperating ends of the nedles. It will also be understood that the speed at which the feed disks feed the, fabric axially depends upon the diameter of thedisk and also upon the angular relation thereof with the axis of movement of the fabric,

A stop pin 233 secured to head |06 is adapted to be engaged by arms |55 for limiting the pivotal movement thereof produced by springs |66 when head |03 is in the raised position.

In the modified form of feed mechanism illustrated in Figures 29 and 30, the shaft 2| 8 has secured to the lower end thereof in any suitable manner, a hub 235 which has secured to the upper face thereof a spring member 236 which is provided with a plurality oi' arms 231, one for each spindle 221. These arms 231- are arranged tangentially to the shaft 2|0 in the same manner in which the spindles 221 are arranged in the structure shown in Figure 23. 'I'he outer end of each arm 231 is secured tothe outer end portion of a corresponding bearing member 233 which, as shown in Figure 30, extends inwardly toward the shaft 2 I 3 in tangential relation thereto beneath the corresponding arm 231 for rotatably supporting the shaft 221 of a respective feed disk 226. It will be understood that there are as many bearing members 238 as there are arms 231` and disks 226 and, as illustrated in Figure 30, .these bearing members extend downwardly from the outer ends thereof at an angle to the axis of the shaft 2|0 and have the inner ends thereof terminating in spaced relation to the'hub 236 and in close proximity to -a supporting plate 239 secured to the lower end of the hub'23l. Each shaft 221 extends inwardly a short distance beyond the inner end of the corresponding bearing member 233 and has secured thereto a collar or bearing element 240. 4

It will now be understood that the feed disks 226 when mounted as shown in Figures 29 and 30, function in the same manner as when mounted in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 23 for `taking up the fabric during the knitting oper- Operation Before starting the machine 'disclosed herewith, it is necessary that the dial plate |36 and the mechanism associated therewith, 'including the feed mechanism, be moved toa position remote from .the needle cylinder so as to` permit a. partially formed article such as the foot and ankle portion of a sock or stocking to be transferred to the needles and transfer jacks carried by needle cylinder I0. The cam |2| is so constructed and mounted upon the pattern 'drum 20 relative to the remaining cams that as the machine completes the knitting of an article, said vcam will operate latch lever |20 for moving the latch ||3 upwardly to release head |06. As the .head |06 is thus released, spring ||0 will automatically raise said head and the mechanism seneedle cylinder to permit the ready positioning of a transfer ring as R, Figure 26, having the partially knitted article mounted thereon over the corresponding teeth of ratchet wheel I5, as tooth T-l of said wheel is engaged `and brought forward by pawl i4. the high point of cam |2| which produces sufficient rocking movement of latch ||3 to release head |06 -ls moved out of engagement with the corresponding push bars, so that upon themachines coming to the at rest position, head |06 will be in the raised position while latch' l I3 will be in the raised vertical position with the head of the latch in the path of movement of latch plate llt.A Also, cylinder cast-off and stitch cams 58 and 59 will have been moved by the action of springs 19 upon rack members 69 to their inoperative positions out ofV engagement with the butts of the cylinder needles, as shown in Figure 25. It will also be noted by referring to Figure 26, thatcam 93 for operating the jack ring'09 is so related to the latch cam |2| that prior to the engagement of the latch cam with the corresponding push bar, said `lack cam 93 will pass out of engagement with its push bar 94 and thereby release the rocker arm 06 associated therewith and permit spring ,to move push rod 90 forwardly and thereby effect the upward axial movement of the Jack ring and thus level the cylinder needles and transferjjacks in the manner hereinbefore described and. as shown in Figure 25.

It will now be readily understood that inasmuch as the cylinder needles and transfer jacks are maintainedat a uniform predetermined level. the stitches carried by the quills as 1' of transfer ring R. may be readily transferred to the needles and jacks engaged by said quills by merely passing the fabric F from a position above the ring. as indicated in Figure 27, downwardly through the ring and into the interior of the needle cylinder 48, as indicated in Figure 28, and in doing so, the stitches carried by the quills will readily pass downwardly therefrom onto the respective cylinder needles and transfer jacks. l The transfer ring Ft is then removed from the needles and jacks and the dialplate and needles are brought into nearly cooperative relation with the cylinder needles and transfer jacks by the operator manually moving the dial supporting head |06 downwardly against the action-of the spring ||0 until the latch ||3 again engages the latch plate H0.

The machineis now set into operation `by connecting drive shaft 6 with any suitable source of power not shown. `'Jihe operation of shaft E rst produces a few revolutions of the-needle cylinder 48 and dial needle plate |36, during which time'tooth T-2 of wheel I5 is operatively engaged by pawl il, and cam |2| is thereby moved out of engagement with its push bar and |1| engage their respective push bars to effect' a partial upward movement thereof-and thus move the corresponding dial cast-oir cams Ill to an intermediate position to produce sumcient outward movement of the dial needles |38 to cause the forward ends thereof to pass through the eyes 53' of aligned transfer jacks 53 carried by the needle cylinder. 'I'he engagement of pawl I4 with tooth T-4 causes Jack cam 03 to next engage the corresponding push bar 94 and produce downward movement of jack ring 09 and thereby return the transfer jacks 53 and needle jacks to their normal inoperative position, thereby releasing the cylinder needles and at the same time transferring the stitches carried by the transfer jacks to the corresponding dial needies at a position -ahead of the needle latches.

The continued operation of the machine next brings the cylinderstitch cams 18 into engagement with their respective push bars which operate arms 12 to eifect the return of the cylinder cast-on cams il and cylinder stitch 'cams l! to their operative positions relative to the cam track l1 and produce operation of the cylinder needles to eect knitting. Simultaneously with the engagement of the cylinder stitch cams with the corresponding push bars, the high portions of the dial cast-oi! cams and |1| effect the return of the dial cast-oir cams to their full operative position. while the dial stitch cams |50 and III effect a movement of the dial stitch cams I to their innermost operative position so that the dial needles III will then function in connection with the cylinder needles for producing an article with a rib stitch.

It will be noted by referring to Figure 26 that just prior to the engagement of the cylinder stitch cams 10 with their respective push bars, one of the yarn guide finger cams as |80 moves out of engagement with its corresponding push bar and thereby releases the corresponding rock arm |55 and permits the spring .|55 to move the guide lingers |80 associated therewith to their outermost operative position for bringing the yarn Y carried thereby into operative relation with the dial and cylinder needles.

In case it is desired to shift from one yarn to another of a diiferent color after a predetermined portion of the fabric has been knitted by the yarn nrst used, the yarn guide cam |80 may be so constructed as to again engage the push bar associated therewith and another yarn guide cam as |00 be terminated so as to release its corresponding push bar and thereby eiIect the return of the ilrst pair oi guide fingers |00 from the operative to the inoperative position and cause a second pair of guide ilngers |80 associated with the respective cam |00 to move to the operative position. At about the same time the second guide fingers are moved to the operative position. a shear cam 2I0 mounted on drum 20 e the push bar associated'with the shear blades and severs the first yarn sed after a fresh portion of the yarn has been drawn by the knitting needles between the corresponding clamping blades |80 so that the end of the severed yarn will be held thereby in position to be again moved to the outer operative position relative to the dial and cylinder needles by the outward movement of the guide fingers associated therewith.

Ifacardiganstitchisto-beusedthedial stitch and cast-oi! cams lli and |10 may, as ilustrated in Figure 26, be provided with reduced portions lli and |10' respectively, for producing the same, in a manner which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

It will now be observed that for each article knit upon the machine disclosed herewith. the

drum 20 makes one complete revolution and as said drum approaches the end of a revolution the guide cam associated with the particular strand of yarn being used is arranged to engage the corresponding push bar and effect the return of the corresponding guide lingers |80 to the inoperative position to bring the yarn associated therewith out of cooperative relation with the dial and cylinder needles and at the same time cause said yarn to travel between the corresponding clamping members. As said yarn is thus engaged by the clamping members, a shear cam 2 I0 mounted upon drum 20 engages the push barl associated with the shear blades and effects the operation of said blades to sever the yarn being used.

Next, the cylinder stitch cams 1l, the dial castoiI cams |10 and |1i, and the dial stitch cams |50 and IBI will be moved out of engagement with their respective push bars and thereby cause the cam members associated therewith to be moved to their respective inoperative positions so that the cylinder needles positioned with the butts thereof in that portion of the cam track 51 adjacent the cast-off cams 58 and stitch cams 59 will be released by said cam members. Also, as the dial stitch cams i and cast-on cams |46 are moved to their innermost position with the outer ends of the dial needles maintained within the peripheral edge of the-dial lplate |36, upon the next intermittent movement of the pattern drum, the Ajack cam 0I moves out of engagement with the push bar associated therewith so that the jack ring is moved to its uppermost position for leveling the Jacks and cylinder needles and at the same time latch cam I 2| engages the push bar connected therewith for eilectinga limited movement of said bar to move the latch upwardly in a direction away from the normal position of the latch plate H0 butI not sufficient to cause the swinging of the latch away from said latch plate. The next intermittent movement of the pattern drum causes the high point of cam 2| to effect the momentary engagement of the trigger ill with the pin I I9 to release the head |00 and permit said head to be moved by spring ||0 to the uppermost inoperative position. The machine may be then stopped by any suitable automatic mechanism associated with the source of power or the drive means for said machine may be manually controlled to eifect the stopping thereof.

The cycle of operation just described may be repeated as often as desired, and although we have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not 'wish to be limited to the exact construction shown as various changes in the form, relation and size of the parts thereof may readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine, means including a single cam track for advancing and retracting a set of needles to eect knitting. a set of needle jacks and means for producing relative movement of the needles and jacks toward each other to bring the Jacks into engagement with the needles for positioning and maintaining said needles at a uniform predetermined level for transfer.

2. In a knitting machine, a cam track, cam means associated with said track for advancing and retractinga set of needles to eifect knitting, l

means for rendering said .cam means ineffective,

needles for maintaining said needles at a predetermined uniform position whereby a transfer ring may simultaneously engage all of the needles of said set for transferring stitches carried thereby to the needles. l

3. In a knitting machine having a set of needles and a set of transfer jacks mounted in co operative relation with the needles, means including cams for advancing and retracting the needles to effect knitting, means for rendering said cams ineffective, and separate means engageable with the needles and jacks for maintaining the forward ends of said needles and jacks at a predetermined uniform position whereby a transfer ring may simultaneously engage all of the needles and jacks of said sets for transferring stitches carried thereby to the needles and jacks.

4. In a'knitting machine, a circular cam carrier having means including c am members for advancing and retracting a set of needles to effect stitching, means for moving the cam members to an inoperative position out of engagement with the needles, and separate means movable into engagement with the needles for leveling said needies and maintaining them in said level position against longitudinal movement for transfer.

5. In aknitting machine, a circular cam carrier having a single cam track for the needle butts, movable cam members associated with the cam track for advancing and retracting the needies to eiect stitching, means for moving the cam members to an inoperative position out of operative engagement with the needle butts, and separate means movable into engagement with the needles for leveling said needles and maintaining them ln the level position against longitudinal movement for transfer while the needle butts are engaged with said track.

6. In a knitting machine having a set of knitting needles and a set of transfer jacks mounted in predetermined relation intermediate the needles, means including a single cam track and a movable cam member associated with said track for advancing and retracting the needles to effect stitching, means for moving the cam member to an inoperative position for releasing the needles,

and means operatively engageable with the jacks and needles for bringing the same into a predetermined level position and maintaining said jacks and needles' against relative longitudinal movement for transfer. f

7. In a knitting machine having a set of knitting needles and a set of transfer jacks mounted in predetermined relation intermediate the vneedles, means for actuatlngsaid jacks to bring them into cooperative relation with the needles for transfer comprising a carrier member having a single track for 4the jack butts, and means for actuating the carrier member to effect longitudinal movement of the jacks.`

8. In a knitting machine, the combination of a cylinder provided with needles, means for actuating said needles, transfer jacks mounted on the cylinder in predetermined relation with the needles, a set of needle jacks mounted on the cylinder beneath the cylinder needles, and means for simultaneously elevating the transfer and needle jacks to bring the transfer of jacks and needles to a predetermined uniform level for transfer.

9. InA a knitting machine, the combination of a dial needles, means for actuating said needle, means for moving the dial plate `and needles carried thereby vertically away from the cylinder to permit transfer of fabric to the cylinder needles, means including a latch for holding the dial plate in its lowermost position with the needles thereof in operative relation with the cylinder needles, and cam means for automatically operating the latch to release the dial plate.

10. In a knitting machine, the combination of a dial plate and a cylinder provided with needles, means for actuating said needles, means including a spring for moving the dial plate and needles carried thereby vertically away from the cylinder to permit transfer of fabric to the cylinder needles, means including a latch for holding the dial plate in its lowermost position against the action of the spring with theneedles thereof in operative relation with the cylinder needles, and cam means for automatically operating the latch to release the dial plate.

1l. In a knitting machine, the combination of a cylinder provided with needles, means including a single cam track for the needle butts and a movable cam member associated with the cam track for advancing and retracting the needles to eifect stitching, means for moving the cam member to an inoperative position for releasing the needles, transfer jacks mounted on the cylinder in predetermined relation with the needles, a set of needle jacks mounted on the cylinder beneath the cylinder needles, a jack ring mounted on the cylinder for movement axially thereof and having a single track supportably engaged by the butts of the transfer and needle jacks, and means for producing said movement of the jack ring axially of the cylinder for levelling the needles and transfer jacks and maintaining them in the leveled position against longitudinal movement for transfer while the needle butts are engaged with said cam track.

12. A circular knitting machine, comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, needles longitudinally reciprocable in said cylinder, cam means for producing said reciprocation of the needles, needle jacks mounted in the cylinder beneath the needles and longitudinally reciproplate and a cylinder provided with cable with respect to said cylinder and needles,

means for simultaneously elevating the needle jacks for positioning and maintaining the needles at a uniform level for transfer including a 

